| Global Cost of Living Rank |
| CIA Background Information |
After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986, but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year, when the islands gained independence.
| U.S. State Department Description |
Country Description:
The Republic of Palau is a constitutional democracy in free association with the United States. Palau is an archipelago consisting of several hundred volcanic and limestone islands and coral atolls, few of which are inhabited, and is politically divided into 16 states. Palau’s developing economy depends on tourism, marine resources and a small agricultural sector. There are two kinds of public transportation available, taxi and Airai bus service. Palau International Airport is located on Babeldaob Island, near Koror Island. Direct commercial air service exists from Manila, Taipei and Guam to Palau. Read the ... Read this Article
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Palauan.
Population: Approximately 20,000 (non-Palauan population, approx. 5,500). Age structure--less than 15 years old, 5,150; 16-64 years old, 13,600; more than 65 years old, 1,130.
Population growth rate: 1.3%.
Ethnic groups: Palauans are Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian elements.
Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Modekngei (an indigenous Palauan religion).
Languages: English (official in all 16 states), ... Read this Article
| |
Location: Palau is Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines See Map
Capital: name: Melekeok
geographic coordinates: 7 29 N, 134 38 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Currency (Code): US dollar (USD) ...More
Area: total: 458 sq km , land: 458 sq km , water: 0 sq km ( 1 sq km is approximately 0.4 sq miles or 250 acres)
Area Comparison: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Elevation Extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m , highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m (1 meter = 3.28 feet)
Population: 21,093 (July 2008 est.)
Unemployment: 4.2% (2005 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 69.9%, Filipino 15.3%, Chinese 4.9%, other Asian 2.4%, white 1.9%, Carolinian 1.4%, other Micronesian 1.1%, other or unspecified 3.2% (2000 census)
Religion: Roman Catholic 41.6%, Protestant 23.3%, Modekngei 8.8% (indigenous to Palau), Seventh-Day Adventist 5.3%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, Latter-Day Saints 0.6%, other 3.1%, unspecified or none 16.4% (2000 census)
Languages: Palauan 64.7% official in all islands except Sonsoral (Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official), Filipino 13.5%, English 9.4%, Chinese 5.7%, Carolinian 1.5%, Japanese 1.5%, other Asian 2.3%, other languages 1.5% (2000 census)
More Statistics
|
| History
Palau was initially settled more than 4,000 years ago, probably by migrants from what today is Indonesia. British traders became prominent visitors in the 18th century, followed by expanding Spanish influence in the 19th century. Following its defeat in the Spanish-American War, Spain sold Palau and most of the rest ... Read this Article
|
| Geographic Info for Palau : |
Geography
Area: 458 sq. km. (about 190 sq. mi.) in eight main islands plus more than 250 islets.
Cities: Capital--Melekeok (pop. 391).
Terrain: Varies from mountainous main island to smaller, reef-rimmed coral islands.
Climate: Tropical.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Palauan.
Population: Approximately 20,000 (non-Palauan population, approx. 5,500). Age structure--less than 15 years old, 5,150; 16-64 years old, 13,600; more ... Read this Article
|
